Funding

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports start-ups in cutting-edge research with “START-interaktiv”.

Module 1 provides funding for project ideas from research groups at universities and research institutions that aim to commercialize the results through a spin-off.

Module 2 provides funding for high-risk projects by start-ups that have already been founded. Pre-competitive projects that are cross-technology and application-oriented and have a direct positive impact on the innovative capacity and expected competitive opportunities of the start-ups are eligible for funding.

Research projects from these subject areas are funded in the modules:

• Digitally supported health and care
• Liveable spaces: smart, sustainable and innovative
• more information

Horizon Europe is the European Union’s (EU) framework program for research and innovation (R&D) for the period 2021-2027. Funding for LifeScience through Horizon Europe is usually provided through annual calls for proposals as part of the following funding measures:

Cluster 1 “Health”: The cluster promotes the networking of basic medical research with clinical, epidemiological, environmental and socio-economic research. Digital solutions and healthcare systems are also funded.

Mission “Cancer”: This mission promotes research for a deeper understanding of cancer and improved prevention, diagnosis and therapy to optimize the quality of life of those affected. It also aims to provide patients with access to cancer treatment.

European partnerships on life sciences: The partnerships aim, among other things, to overcome the fragmentation of the R&D landscape, avoid overlaps with national or regional research activities and promote competitiveness and innovation. With regard to the life sciences, partnerships are planned on the following topics: Health innovations, global health, chemical risk assessment, medical research, transformation of the health and care system, personalized medicine, rare diseases and antibiotic resistance.

IHI – Innovative Health Initiative: The aim of the IHI is to contribute to the creation of an EU-wide ecosystem for health research and innovation that facilitates the translation of scientific knowledge into innovations in the fields of prevention, diagnostics, treatment and disease management. The focus is on projects involving the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology sectors, including companies active in the digital field.

Eurostars / EUREKA Objective: Eurostars is aimed at research-driven small and medium-sized enterprises that are to be increasingly motivated to cooperate in European R&D projects. Eurostars projects are pre-competitive, technology- and topic-open projects and serve civil purposes.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and EIT Health: The EIT promotes the “Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)”. One of the KICs, EIT Health, was founded on the topic of “Innovation for healthy living and active ageing” as one of the largest health initiatives worldwide. By collaborating with leading organizations from the pharmaceutical, medical technology, payer, scientific research institutions and universities, it is driving healthcare forward in a sustainable way.

Further information

With the Cologne Soft Landing Program, KölnBusiness has created a funding instrument to support international startups and companies in settling in Cologne. International start-ups and companies can apply for the program. Funding is available for commercial rental costs, consulting costs, material costs and personnel costs up to a maximum of EUR 3,000 per company.

Soft Landing Programme >>>